Process of scouring wool



THOMAS 1). SMITH, or mrw 10min. Y.

, 1'55}, -..i H111; PROCESS OF SCO'URING WOOL.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. SMITH, a

citizen of the United States, residin at New In the scouring of raw wool it is customary to use water containing various soaps and compositions. Many .such compositionshave been recommended for this purpose and a number are in use. I have discovered that I can effect a better scouring with a cleaner product by using in connection with 'the scouring solutions more-or less potassium alginate. The potassium alginate may be used alone as a suitable solution, or it may be dissolved in any of the ordinary scouring baths. As to the reason for the improvement in scouring effected by the use of potassium alginate I am unable to say and content myself with noting the result.

Alginic acid is a complex body of unknown constitution occurring in various seaweeds of the nature of kelp. It is a gummy or amorphous material of acid nature and is wholly insoluble in water in the free state but is taken into solution by caustic soda or caustic potash to form extraordinarily viscous or gummy solutions. The compounds formed with soda or with potash is called an alginate. Alginic acid may be made from seaweed by extracting the weed with caustic soda, and precipitating the resultant'solution with any convenient acid, such as sulfuric acid.

In practical embodiments of my invention I'find it best to scour in a more or less methodical way with the use ofseveral-successive baths; these baths being used on the countercurrent principle. Ordinarily I use .more or less soap in connection with the potassium al inate. Its use is not absolutely necessary but I secure better results. Any convenient commercial soap used for scouring wool may be used in connection with the Specification bf Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. '7', 1922.

Application filed May 7,1921. Serial 110. 467,671.

alginate. I secure still more advantageous results however by making the-soap at the same time that I make the potassium alginate solution. A desirable composition for the present purposes ma be made by dissolvlng 4 parts of or inary commercial caustic potash in- Sparts by weight of water and stirrin thereinto 1 part of dry commercial. alglnic acid in powder form and 3 ounces of any suitablefat, such as tallow or oil such as cottonseed oil. Heat may be used to facilitate reaction. The result isa thick liquid or soupy mass. This composition is used insolution or in admixture with water. Ordinarily I pass the wool successively through 4 vats or containers. More or fewer may be used but 4 is a convenient number.

In the first vat I may place a solution of the composition just described in the portions of about 1 pound to, say, 12 gal ons of water. F. and scour the raw wool therein. .After successive lots of wool have been scoured in this vat and the solution becomes exhausted, the liquid may be treated for separating potash salts, lanolin, greases, etc. The residual liquid may be treated to recover alginic acid, potash, etc. In order to recover alginic acid, it may be simply acidulated with sulfuric acid whereupon alglnic acid separates as an insoluble body. The partially scoured wool is now scoured in the second vat in successlon in which I use a somewhat weaker This vat I maintain at about 120 solution of the stated composition. This bath may be madeby dissolving a pound of the composition in 16 gallons of water. The temperature in this second scouring is best kept around 115 F. In the third scouring I use a still weaker solution, say, 1 pound The temperature is also maintained at a somev of composition to 32 gallons of water.

what less degree, say 110 F. In the fourth vat, I customarily use water for rinsing.

same way the third bath after a period of I use, ma I be strengthened and-used for the second ath. The water in the fourth vat after being used for rinsing for a time may be employed in making up the bath for the third vat.

What I claim is V fat in a solution of caustic potash, diluting 1. In the scouring of wool the rocess with water and scouring wool in a bath so which comprises treating such woo in a formed. 7 1O bath containing dissolved potassium algi In testimony whereof, I have hereunto af- 5 nate. fixed my signature.

2. In the scouring of: wool the process which comprises dissolving alginic acid and v v THOMAS D. SMITH. 

